FF on demand?

[minimuffy]

DD is 22 days old, only got out of hospital at 21 days (long story, fully term baby, icu for over two weeks, managed to express for that time)

anyway, was ff in hospital and was getting about 75mls every three hours. but now she's home i worry that she's not getting enough. She tends to take 30-40mls then fall asleep and will take more a couple of hours later and will take full 70-90mls at times. it's more of an on-demand thing rather than the 3 hourly feeds like at the hospital.

so, questions:

1- how do i know that i'm not underfeeding her
2- do i continue on-demand feeding or try and get her into a more routine feeding schedule (if it even exists for a newborn
3- how do i stop her falling asleep during a feed
and
4- should i wake her for feeds?

thanks for any help xx

MW will tell you to wake for feeds but my friend did this as her DD slept through the night at 4 weeks and MW went mad at her. Her DD now won't sleep still (she's 6!).

My personal opinion would be to feed when she wakes as she'll wake when hungry, but this does depend on her weight. Is she a normal/healthy weight for age? If so do demand feeding for a week but keep a record and get her weight after a week to see how she is doing. This will give you a guide as to whether to wake her or not.

If she looks like she's not gaining or is losing weight then you'll have to wake her, but try and see what works best for you both. You've only just got home so have to find a routine that works for you both. Good luck x

I wouldn't wake her overnight either.
I would say ff on demand - I did and it worked well. Just make sure you never tell a HV you are doign this. If they ask you are on a strict 4 hour schedule and everything is great.

This is really interesting.

What do most FFers do? Do you get onto a schedule or do you feed on demand?

I can't really see why it should be too different to BFing even if they go longer between feeds - but saying that they still need the same calories over 24 hours so if they're going longer between feeds they must be taking more at each feed (especially as FM is slightly less calorific than BM).

Confused! :)

HV said to feed on demand. She was 7lbs 1oz t birth and yesterday she got weighed and was 7lbs 5oz which the HV was more than happy with. think i will need to see how i get on with on demand and discuss next week with HV and see how much she weighs then.

Good HV! Lots of them get all sniffy about 4 hourly feeding schedules and recommend making baby wait. That might be more for when they're a bit older rather than at 3 weeks old though!

can't believe anyone would recommend a feeding schedule for a baby . I fed on demand with my two. Sometimes they would only take a bit, others the full bottle.

Really formula is no different to breast feeding in that respect. You feed them when they cry and then they stop feeding when they are full, Voila!

Don't worry if she falls asleep, she will soon wake when she is hungry, and the only time I woke mine for a feed, and still do for DS2 who is 10 months, is at 11ish at night to ensure he doesn't wake at 1am for a feed

Sounds like you are doing fine mini and congratulations by the way!

this is all very reassuring! thank you all! as if it hasnt been tough enough having her in the hospital for so long and the difficult bit is trying to figure out formula feeding!